Today we had our brother Abdullah Jamaal ‘Abbaas, one of the students of Sheikh Muhammad Sa’eed Rslan (may Allah preserve him and his family), come into the studio today to read this du’aa. Please listen to it and try to repeat it as best you can.

From Ibn Abbas who said the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– used to seek refuge for al-Hassan and al-Hussein, he would say:

‘I seek refuge for you two with Allaah’s perfect words from every Shaytaan (devil) and poisonous creature and every evil eye.’

He –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– said that this is how Ibrahim used to seek refuge for Ishaaq and Ismaeel.’
[Collected by Bukhari & Tirmidhi with the extra wording, authenticated by Albaani]

An Explanation:

Abul Ulaa AbdurRahmaan al-Mubarakfooree -Rahimullaah- said:

‘Allaah’s words’: ‘It has been said that they are the Qur’aan and it has also been said they are Allaah’s names.’

‘Perfect’: ‘Al-Jazari said: ‘Indeed Allaah’s speech has been described as being Perfect, because it is not permissible for any of His speech to have deficiency or fault like there is in the speech of people.’

‘It has been said that the meaning of ‘Perfect’ here is that it benefits the one seeking refuge with these ‘Perfect words’, and protect him from illnesses and this would be sufficient for him.’

‘Poisonous creature’: ‘Every type of creature that kills with poison. And it is possible that it could mean any crawling animal even if it does not kill, like insects.’

Caller: O Shaykh regarding ‘I seek refuge for you two with Allaah’s perfect words from every Shaytaan (devil) and poisonous creature and every evil eye.’ Is this said three consecutive times or just once?

Shaykh: No, it is mentioned once, however if it appears to the one saying this Dua’ that he needs to repeat it without specifying three times, then there is no problem with that.

Caller: and should he place his hand on the head of the one sought refuge for?

Shaykh: Yes, yes!

Caller: Even in congregation, if it is a group of children together, how can he place his hand upon all of them?

Shaykh: He should place his two hands on two of the children, then repeat this on the rest of the children.

The majority of scholars held the view that this Du`a’ (supplication) falls under the category of stressed Sunnah. It was been reported on the authority of Tawus, one of the great Tabi`un (Followers, the generation after the Companions of the Prophet) that this Du`a’ is obligatory. Tawus is also reported to have ordered his son to repeat his Salah when he knew that he did not recite this Du`a’. This indicates that such Du`a’ is a stressed Sunnah, which the Mu’min should not miss in obligatory or voluntary Salah.

People are subject to trials in their lives and after death. One may commit sins or Bid`ah (innovation in Islam), or be exposed to Kufr (disbelief) in Allah’s Religion. One might be tempted with wealth, lusts, sins, or evil company, and commit acts which displease Allah, whether it be Kufr, Bid`ah, or sins during their lives or at their death. We ask Allah to grant us protection from it. One may be tested with the trial of Al-Masih-ul-Dajjal if they live during the time when he appears. Al-Masih-ul-Dajjal will appear at the end of time, claiming to be a prophet and lord of all creation. Many people will follow him. We seek refuge with Allah from this. They will be doomed because of their following him. One should ask the Lord to protect them from these trials, because they do not know whether they will be saved or not. Therefore, one must ask Allah to protect them from the torment of Hellfire, the punishment of the grave, the trials of life and death and the trial of Al-Masih-ul-Dajjal. Everyone is in need of this Du`a’ so that they will not be tried in their life or upon dying; and so that they will not experience the trial of Al-Masih-ul-Dajjal if they happen to live at the time when he appears. We ask Allah to save us from this.

Question: Noble Shaikh, from that which is well-known and agreed upon, is that verily all of the sins and disobediences [that one does puts him/her] under the Mashiyyah [Will] of Allaah. If Allaah wills, He may forgive him and if Allaah wills He may punish him except for Shirk; for verily Allaah does not forgive it [the sin of Shirk] due to the statement of the Most High: “Indeed Allaah does not forgive that you join partners in worship with Him but He forgives what is lesser than that for whomever He wills.” [4:48] But I read in a book entitled Zaadul Muslim Al-Yaumee [The Muslim’s Daily Provision] that verily whoever says in a day: “Oh Allaah! Indeed I seek refuge with You that I associate in worship with You while I know and I seek Your Forgiveness For what I don’t know.” That Allaah shall cause the Major Shirk and the Minor Shirk to depart from him, so is the one who says this du’aa everyday forgiven for his sins?

The Taubah (repentance) wipes out that which preceded it. Seeking forgiveness and having regret is Taubah (repentance).The hadeeth mentions the expiation of minor shirk, which is Riyaa` [doing acts of worship to be seen of men].

Rabbi ‘a`outhubika min hamazaatish-shayaateeni, wa ‘a`outhu bika rabbi ‘ay-yahdhuroon“My Lord! I seek refuge with You from the whisperings of the Shayaateen. And I seek refuge with You, My Lord! lest they should come near me.”(Surah Al Muminoon 23:97-98)

(And say: “My Lord! I seek refuge with You from the whisperings of the Shayatin.”) Allah commanded him to seek refuge with Him from the Shayatin, because no trick could help you against them and you cannot protect yourself by being kind to them. We have already stated, when discussing Isti`adhah (seeking refuge), that the Messenger of Allah used to say,‘A`outhu bil lãhi ‘as-samee`il-`aleemi minash-shaytãnir-rajeemi, min hamzihi, wa naphkhihi, wa nafthihi I seek refuge with Allah, the All-Hearing, All-Knowing, from the accursed Shayatin, from his whisperings, evil suggestions and insinuations.

His saying:

(“And I seek refuge with You, My Lord! lest they should come near me.”) means, in any issue of my life. So we are commanded to mention Allah at the beginning of any undertaking, in order to ward off the Shayatin at the time of eating, intercourse, slaughtering animals for food, etc.

Share this, Baarakallaah Feekum: [“One who guides to something good has a reward similar to that of its doer” - Saheeh Muslim vol.3, no.4665]